Microsoft is preparing to revive the traditional Start button it killed with Windows 8. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans have revealed to The Verge that Windows 8.1 will include the return of the Start button. We understand that the button will act as a method to simply access the Start Screen, and will not include the traditional Start Menu. The button is said to look near-identical to the existing Windows flag used in the Charm bar.

Although the Start Button will be brought back, the Start Menu will not be coming back, as the button will bring up the Start Screen instead. In addition, an option to boot directly to the desktop (a feature already available in Windows Server 2012) may be added as well.

While it is amusing to see that Microsoft is reversing it’s decision on implementing a Start Button for Windows 8, the lack of a traditional Start Menu will continue to disappoint users that are using Windows 8 on a PC that lacks touch control. It looks like third party Windows 8 Start Menu replacements such as Start8 and ClassicShell will continue to be the best solution for the time-being.